Stanley George Hooker came to Brasenose as a postgraduate student in 1932, having obtained his B.Sc. at Imperial College, London. He was awarded his D.Phil. in 1936. Two years later he was invited to work for Rolls-Royce, where he stayed until 1948, working on engine design during World War II. Subsequently he worked for the Bristol Aero Engine Company, returning to Rolls-Royce when that company acquired Bristol Sideley. He was knighted in 1974.